Spring-retainer for puppet-valves



W. C. WILLARD. SPRING RETAINER FOR PUPPET VALVES.

APPLICATION FILED AuG.27, 1920.

Patented Sept 13, 1921.

`UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WALTER C. WILLARD, OF GATES MILLS, OHIO.

SPRINGeBETAINER FOR PUPPETeVALVES.

i so as to distinguish it from other inventions.

My invention relates todevices for retaining the springs used `for actuatingV puppet valves, its object being to produce a retaining device simple in structure, economical `of manufacture, eilicient in the performance of its function, and one that may be assembled or taken down with facility.

The said invention consists of means hereinafter fully described and particularly set forth in the claims. i y

More specifically, said invention consists of a retainer member against `which the spring is adapted to bear, which is secured 1n place by a locking member engaging the valve stem, said locking member `and Are.-

taineI-member having a universal bearing relation, whereby required adjustment of parts is automatically obtained.

The annexed drawing and the following description set forth in detail certain means embodyingr my invention, the disclosed means, however, constituting but one of the various mechanical forms in which the principle of the invention may be applied.

In said annexed drawing:

Figure l represents a fragmentary section of an automobile including a puppet valve and a retaining device embodying my invention, parts cut by the plane of section being shown in elevation.

Fig. 2 represents a plan of the retainer,`

showlng the valve stemin section.

Fig. 3 represents an axial section of the retaining or cup member.

Fig. 4 represents a bottom cup member.

i Fig. 5 represents an axial section of one of the halves of the locking member.

Fig. 6 represents a plan, and Fig. 7 a side elevation of one of said halves.

In the illustrated embodiment of my invention, the valve stem 1 is formed near its end, with two parallel grooves 2, 2, of arcuate cross-section, as shown in Fig. l. Into plan of such Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 13, 1921.

Application sled august 27, 1920. serial No. 406,375.

these grooves are seated the inwardly pro- ]ecting circumferential beads 3, 3, formed upon two halves of the locking member 4. These two halves are punched out so as to assume a. shape such that the beads or arcs 3, 3, substantially lit the grooves 2, 2. Intermediately of these two beads, there is formed in each locking half an outwardly projectlng rounded bearing surface 5, of greater dlameter than the ends 6, 6, of the locking member. Said two halves are each made slightly less than 18()o in circumference, so

`that a small space remains between them,

when assembled, as shown in Fig. 2, to allow for take-up due to possible inaccuracies of production. y

A retaining piece or cup 7 surrounds the end of the stem, the latter projecting through a central bottom aperture 8 formed in the cup and of a diameter slightly greater than that .t of the ends of the locking member 4 when assembled in place. 'This cup 7 is formed with a downwardly projecting circumferential flange-9, forming a seat for the end of the actuating spring 10; and is centrally depressed to form an interior conical bearing surface 1l, whichis engaged by the bearing surface `5` of the locking member'.

It will be noted that the spring 1() through conical surfaces l1 exerts a wedging action upon the two parts of the locking member 4, which causes them to clamp onto the valve stems. The heavier this pressure the tighter the two parts are held against the stem and the more secure is the engagement of the beads 3, 3 with the grooves 2, 2. It will also be noted that the construction is such as not to produce a fixed axis of oscillation of the cup-member 7, but on the contrary the connection between said member and the stem is of the character of a universal bearing.

The above-described construction lends itself to rapid production from low-priced materials inasmuch as the cup and locking members may both be stamped from sheet metal. Furthermore, it permits of the elimination of defects incident to the adoption of the conventional key-slot, drilled holes or square grooves in the valve-stems, and particularly thosey resulting from the heat-treating operation performed upon the valve stem after they are machined for receiving the retainers of the heretofore accepted types, and which have heretofore arisenas a result of the presence of sharp angles incident to such valve-stem construction.

A further and important feature of the invention resides in the universal bearing relationship between the retainer and valve stem. This feature permits the parts when assembled to adapt themselves as to size and lit, to any inaccuracies of machined surfaces, and more particularly to the spring ends so as to. relieve the valve stems from the side pressure and consequent wear otherwise present When spring ends are out of square with axis; and are self-alining, While at the'fsamev time they are rigid as regards the 'retention of the sprinof.

In order to disassemble or take down the parts after the tapper or cam is disengaged, the spring 1s compressed, so as to relieve fthe pressure of the cup-member against the locking member 4. The two parts of the lattermay be disengaged from the grooves 2, 2, and thenremovedfrom the cup-member. This permits the latter to be readily removed from vtheV stem. ln assembling the reverse operation is, of course, employed, all as ywill be'readily understood by those skilled in the art.

lVhat I Vclaim is:

l. In a spring retainer for puppet valves, the combination with a cup-member adapted to receive the'en'd of a coil-spring; of Va locking-' member adapted to engage a Valve stem and having a universal bearing relation with said cup-member.

2. In la'spring retainer for puppet valves, the combination kwith a cup member having a concave surface and adapted to receive the u end of aVcOil-Spring, of a locking member adapted to engage a valve stem and having a convex curved bearing surface engaging said concave surface of the cup-member.

3. In a spring retainer for puppet valves, the combination with a cup-member having a concave surface and adapted to receive the end of a coil-spring; of a tivo-part locking member formed With tivo interior beads adapted to engage respectively tivo grooves in a valve-Stein, and with an exterior convex curved bearing surface engaging said concave surface of the cup-member.

4. In a spring retainer for puppet valves. the combination With a cup member of sheet metal pressed to form an interior concave surface and an exterior :seat for the end of a coil-spring; of a tivo part locking niember formed from sheet-metal pressed to form two interior beads and an intermediate exterior curved bearing surface; said beads adapted to engage grooves in a valve stem and said bearing surface adapted to engage said interior concave surface.

5. The combination with a valve-steni formed with tivo parallel circumferential grooves; of a spring retaining device through which said stem projects and comprising a cup-shaped member provided with an exterior spring seat, together with a, locking member consisting of tivo similar parts each formed with two interiorly projecting semicircular parallel circumferential beads and an intermediate circumferential depression forming the exterior rounded bearing surface; the latter surface engaging the interior surface of said cup-shaped member.

Signed by me, this (Sth day of August, 1920.

WALTER C. VVILLARD. 

